Minor Jacksonville Flashing Cases Can Have Major Long-Term Consequences

Jacksonville news media recently reported that a 24-year-old man was charged with three counts of lewd exhibition and one count of exposure of sexual organs in a case where police believe he committed several sex crimes in Jacksonville while driving a Volkswagon Beetle.

News4Jax.com reports that the incidents happened from January to October in different parts of the city. Police believe the intended targets were teens.

According to Florida Statutes 800.03, exposure of sexual organs is a first-degree misdemeanor. it means to expose one’s sexual organs in public in an “indecent manner.”

Lewd exhibition, according to Florida Statutes 800.04, lewd exhibition means to intentionally expose oneself, masturbate or commit a sex act in the presence of a person under 16. This is punishable as a second-degree felony, which can mean up to 15 years in prison. If the offender is under 18, it is a third-degree felony.

There have been incidents that Jacksonville criminal defense lawyers have seen where a person is caught outside naked all of a sudden turns into criminal charges. If arrested, that person’s jail mug shot could be online forever. They have criminal charges on their record, whether they are guilty or not.

And if they are convicted, there is a possibility these people could end up having to register as a sexual offender, something that can remain for life. Even minor sex-based crimes can result in a lifetime as a sexual offender. This means that a person not only must have their face, name, address and other information about them stored in national and state databases, but they must regularly be in contact with law enforcement.

Typically, sex offenders must tell the police and sheriff’s departments in the city or county they live in where they live. If they move, they must tell the old county and city as well as the new county and city. If they don’t, they could be arrested and thrown back in jail and face new felony charges of not reporting as a sexual offender.

That’s why these charges must be aggressively defended. Being labeled a sexual offender can ruin a person’s life, whether the charges are warranted or not. This remind us of a case in South Florida, where a federal prosecutor was at a bar and jumped in a pool in his gym shorts. As he got out of the pool, they slipped and a woman and her child were exposed. The prosecutor was charged, though charges were eventually dropped. Think of what that could have done to his career and life if he was fully prosecuted for such a “sex” crime?

In the Jacksonville case, according to police, the 24-year-old admitted to his actions and on more than half a dozen occasions had pulled up to girls, talked to them and began masturbating. After making a composite sketch, police are looking for more alleged victims.

The Forbess Law Firm has been aiding clients who face criminal charges in Jacksonville for more than a decade and is here to provide aggressive criminal defense to anyone accused of a crime. If you or a loved one requires a Jacksonville criminal defense lawyer, contact our firm today. We are available through our website or by calling us at 904-634-0900.